E30 M3 number 2. 04/09/22 Engine build.

[bss325i]

We have some colour!

Fresh lachs silver looks great compared to when its dull and flat but i guess you can say that about pretty much any paint colour. Cant wait to see it in sunlight and even more so looking forward to fitting it back up!

Very pleased with how it has turned out.

[flybynite]

Nice work, can't beat taking it back to metal, I think It always shows through on the finished car.

One question knowing what you ended up doing, if you did it again would you have it dipped and e-coated?

[TurtleDesignTech]

Looks gorgeous!
Definitely worth taking back to bare metal.

[bss325i]

Nice work, can't beat taking it back to metal, I think It always shows through on the finished car.

One question knowing what you ended up doing, if you did it again would you have it dipped and e-coated?

Thanks. Very good question!

In my opinion this car didn't warrant it as on the whole the shell was in pretty good shape and corrosion has not got a hold of it in tricky areas to repair.

[martauto]

WOW, cant wait to see the end results here, I`m sure you will show them to us.lol

Mart.

[bss325i]

Thanks mart. It may be a while before the end results are posted up but i will there will some activity over the next few weeks,



Safely delivered back at my workshop today so can press on over the xmas/new year break.







Very pleased with how the factory look has turned out. The aim was to replicate what was there before but without the corrosion and flaky sealer. Beige underseal and just the right amount of body colour over spray along with the black inner wheel arches faded in.













Every orifice from the inside out has been liberally filled with Bolt Hamber UC cavity wax to keep the rust at bay.

[martauto]

Looking really good, what are your intentions for it when all finished ?

Mart.

[DanThe]

Undercarriage looks great

[bss325i]

Thanks guys,

Mart, my intention is to use it as much as possible.



The refit starts! All new engine bay bulkhead sound insulation fitted.



New interior bulkhead upper sound insulation and replacement stick on sound insulation pads cut and fitted where removed for repairs.





complete wiring loom has now been fitted with the engine bay re-wrapped in the correct fabric tape.

[shedrool83]

This is going to be some car when finished

[martauto]

Great answer !!!
Would be a shame to keep it indoors.

Mart.

[bss325i]

Small update. Chipping away at refitting it over the Christmas break.





Routing the body loom in place and wrapping it using the correct tesa cloth tape.



Carpet and HVAC box in place. Both doors have the wiring fitted, complete handle and lock mechs plus window regulators and glass.



Main part of the dashboard in place. There are other various clips, bracket and fittings also in place around the car.

[flybynite]

Coming along nicely, always find it is the fiddly but satisfying part of a build, putting things back.

complete wiring loom has now been fitted with the engine bay re-wrapped in the correct fabric tape.

What number tape is that in the engine bay? was it 510, 514 or 517? Used some a while back but so long ago now I have forgotten which one. I may be needing a roll or ten.

[rix313]

It must be super satisfying putting it all back together.

[bss325i]

Coming along nicely, always find it is the fiddly but satisfying part of a build, putting things back.

complete wiring loom has now been fitted with the engine bay re-wrapped in the correct fabric tape.

What number tape is that in the engine bay? was it 510, 514 or 517? Used some a while back but so long ago now I have forgotten which one. I may be needing a roll or ten.

Erm im not sure of the number off the top of my head but i can get the part number when im back in work.

[bss325i]

It must be super satisfying putting it all back together.

Yes bolting on nice new, cleaned of refurbished parts is nice but the trouble with that is often a part is not good enough to go back on the car and thats when it gets expensive!

[bss325i]

Chipping away at it,





Bumper brackets have been blasted and painted, various fittings and brackets re plated in the original zinc passivate finish.





New heat shields fitted.



Original bumper side mounts cleaned up and refitted with new speed clips and spire bolts in the original finish.



Rear lights cleaned up and refitted, new number plate lamps and boot lock fitted.

[Steve]

Truly awesome Barry, what are your plans for this once it done? I hope you're planning to enjoy it.

[TurtleDesignTech]

This is amongst my favourite threads at the moment.

[martauto]

If only ??

Mart.

[bss325i]

One of the things that triggered the restoration... for those of you who have read the whole tale will remember the front screen being hit by what felt like a rock during a hot lap of the ring. Replaced with a new genuine BMW top tint screen joined by a new genuine rear screen all fitted with new rubber seals at the front and new clips and trims at the rear. Some new scuttle vent trims and all new wiper linkage mounting hardware on the scuttle finish off that area.



New Hirchmann antenna as my original was badly faded. Also my radio reception was never great so hopefully this will improve it.











Picked up some freshly vapour blasted parts removed from the engine .

[milescook]

More please!!!

[Mitchen]

Oh hello .. that's my E30 in the background that I haven't seen since the summer

Looks awesome Bazza.. looking forward to seeing it soon.. BUT why go to all the effort of blasting everything, and getting all the bolts zinc passivated etc. and then be smoking it around like a daily.. surely all your hard work and presentation will be ruined within 6 months to a year?

[bss325i]

BUT why go to all the effort of blasting everything, and getting all the bolts zinc passivated etc. and then be smoking it around like a daily.. surely all your hard work and presentation will be ruined within 6 months to a year?

I will use it as much as possibly... in the dry!

[bss325i]

For those of you with a good memory, back when i listed the new replacement panels one of them was a sport evo rear spoiler.



For those of you not familiar with the Sport evo it was the last homologated version of the E30 M5 which had a 2.5 engine as well as adjustable front and rear spoilers plus many other changes unique to the Sport evo. The spoilers have always been something that owners of non Evo M3's have retro fitted and ive always been a fan of that look (and function!)



The correct spacers unique to the Sport evo spoiler were fitted, something often missed out be people retro fitting or fitting a replica.



The bolts! These countersunk hex head bolts that hold the adjustable position rear blade to the main spoiler at NLA from BMW.

I had a selection of original ones, 6 corroded and 2 new (8 in total needed) and i was going the get the corroded ones blasted and re- chemical blacked to original finish but a trial fit found that the latest batch of Sport evo spoilers made by BMW had the threaded inserts recessed further in so the original bolts were not long enough,

Some searching online found the correct countersunk M8x1.25mm hex head bolts in a choice of lengths but in stainless so 5mm longer ones did the trick. A coat of satin black had them looking good and the result.....





Very happy with the rear end now! I've now the dilemma as to weather i replace the evo 2 front spoiler with a Sport evo adjustable front to match the rear...

What has become quite noticeable now is the left reverse light being duller than the right hand one so a new left lamp unit is now added to the ever growing list of new parts required.

[bss325i]

Inside the rear right wheel arch is the fuel tank breather system which is an area often full of mud, rust and holes. The filler neck blasted and painted, vent tank cleaned, all hoses replaced with new and new electro plated fittings.



New Splash guard and a new metal pipe cover fitted (they have now doubled in price!) after being painted and cavity waxed on the inside.

Ignore the suspension components as these will be tackled later on but i gave the shock a wipe down for the aid of the pic.



Freshly refurbished 16x7.5 Style 5s by Lepsons shod in my favoured Yokohama AD08R rubber





Starting to look more like a car now. Bumper foils (black stripes) have been applied and new rear badges with the all important M3 badge fitted millimetre perfect as per BMW fitting instructions.

[Shutthatdoor]

Fandabbi spectacular

By default obviously Lepsons are trusted to get get correct bbs colour right. I've people local to me in Guildford but I've not seen their work & how well they can match to original.

[martauto]

Masterpiece....................

Mart.

[bss325i]

Details.... all new petrol flap and filler hardware. Decal is the first of many 1st class reproductions by pukardesigns.com.



The best part of six hours work to get the original headlining back in with a result i was happy with.



All of the shadow line trim has been painted in the correct satin black, Both doors have been fitted with their trims, complete new rubber seals and original glass.

[shedrool83]

Outstanding work and results .

[bss325i]

Trying to find time is getting harder but some progress is being made.









The rear bumper aero plastics have all been replaced with new.

[pipeuy]

Wow it's looking insanely good. Love how the zinc plated fasteners look. Keep the updates coming!

[martauto]

I just cant get enough of this, its like a dream

Mart.

[bss325i]

Thanks guys!





Side skirts painted in the correct satin finish now fitted with all new clips and fittings completes all of the body panel fitment.

[aimlessrock]

I could read this all day long- it will almost be a shame to drive this once finished.